Russian invasion
War against Ukraine: That’s the situation
Soldiers fire on Ukrainian troops. photo
© Alexei Alexandrov/AP/dpa
After the most recent devastating attacks by Russia, international horror is still great. President Selenskyj encourages the Ukrainians – and promises quick repairs. The overview.
After the heavy attacks at the beginning of the week, Russia again launched widespread attacks on Ukraine. Irrespective of this, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj promised his compatriots that the destroyed infrastructure would be rebuilt soon. Several substations in Lviv in the west of the country were completely destroyed by the shelling, which was apparently aimed in particular at energy infrastructure. Many residents were cut off from electricity.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov thanked the US and Germany for arms deliveries on Wednesday night and announced “a new era of air defense” for his country.
Despite Moscow’s recent escalation, another exchange of prisoners took place between the two countries, according to information from Kyiv. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, met Russian President Vladimir Putin – and once again called for a protection zone around the occupied Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhia. Meanwhile, the G7 countries pledged further support to Ukraine. Wednesday is the 231st day of the war.
Zelenskyj: Attacks can only delay reconstruction
The shelling on Tuesday only delayed the repair of previously damaged objects, said Selenskyj in his video speech on Wednesday night after the second wave of Russian attacks. “Where there were casualties, there is already our will to build. Where there were any enemy hopes, there will be only ruins of Russian statehood.” Russia fired 28 rockets at his country on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian air defense intercepted 20 of them. Almost all of the 15 drones were shot down.
Biden: Putin has “significantly miscalculated”
According to US President Joe Biden, Kremlin chief Putin misjudged his war of aggression against Ukraine. “I think he’s a rational actor who has miscalculated significantly,” Biden told US broadcaster CNN in an interview broadcast on Tuesday evening (local time). Putin had wrongly assumed that the Ukrainians would submit to a Russian invasion. “I think he thought he was going to be welcomed with open arms,” Biden said. “I think he just completely miscalculated.”
G7 wants to hold Putin accountable for war crimes
The seven leading democratic economic powers have strongly condemned the recent Russian missile attacks on Ukraine and pledged further military support to the Ukrainian armed forces. After a video conference with Zelenskyy, the G7 leaders issued a joint statement recalling that “indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constituted a war crime”. They threatened Russia with further sanctions against individuals and institutions inside and outside the country that supported the war of aggression politically or economically. The G7 pledged further financial, humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine.
Stoltenberg threatens consequences if nuclear weapons are used
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has again threatened Russia with consequences if nuclear weapons are used in the Ukraine war. “If Russia uses nuclear weapons, it will have various consequences, even if smaller nuclear weapons are used,” the Norwegian told the news portal “ZDFheute.de”. He doesn’t want to go into too much detail. “The most important thing is to prevent that from happening.” According to Stoltenberg, the risk of Russia using nuclear weapons remains low. “But the escalation in Ukraine and the nuclear threat to Russia make it necessary for us to take them seriously and be prepared.”
Lambrecht condemns rocket attacks on civilians
Before a meeting of NATO defense ministers on Wednesday, Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) sharply condemned the Russian missile attacks in Ukraine. “Putin is openly terrorizing the civilian population with rocket attacks on Ukrainian cities. His contempt for the people obviously increases with the failure of his plans,” Lambrecht told the newspapers of the Funke media group. “We must continue our support for Ukraine unabated.” The delivery of air defense systems is therefore the right step.
Lambrecht had announced that the first of four state-of-the-art Iris-T SLM air defense systems would now be made available to Ukraine. According to a “Spiegel” report, the unit has already been handed over. According to the Ministry of Defense, three more units will be delivered in the coming year.
The Ukrainian Defense Minister Resnikov thanked Twitter for arms deliveries from the United States and Germany on Wednesday night. “A new era of air defense” has begun in Ukraine, Resnikov wrote. The Iris-T air defense system from Germany has already arrived. Nasams rocket launcher systems from the USA are on the way. “This is just the beginning. And we need more. There is no doubt that Russia is a terrorist state,” wrote the minister. He thanked Lambrecht for their “strong willingness” to support Ukraine. “We will win,” Reznikov tweeted.
That will be important on Wednesday
The defense ministers of the NATO countries are meeting in Brussels for a two-day meeting. In addition to the war in Ukraine, the topic is also efforts to expand the capacities of the armaments industry. After the alleged acts of sabotage against the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipelines, there should also be additional protection for critical infrastructure.
In New York, the UN General Assembly votes on the illegal Russian annexation of Ukraine. The vote is also seen as a global mood test on Moscow’s war of aggression. A corresponding resolution to vote condemns Russia’s annexation and declares it invalid. In addition, the Kremlin is asked to reverse the incorporation of the partially occupied regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Cherson.
Putin is expected in Moscow at the Russian Energy Week.